SHOWS: SEVILLE, SPAIN (FEBRUARY 23, 2019) (REUTERS PICTURES - ACCESS ALL) 1.

STILL OF BARCELONA'S LIONEL MESSI IN ACTION 2.

STILL OF MESSI VOLLEYING BALL 3.

STILL OF MESSI CELEBRATING GOAL 4.

STILL OF MESSI CELEBRATING GOAL 5.

STILL OF MESSI CELEBRATING HIS THIRD GOAL OF THE GAME 6.

STILL OF MESSI CELEBRATING HIS THIRD GOAL OF THE GAME SEVILLE, SPAIN (FEBRUARY 23, 2019) (LA LIGA/MEDIAPRO - NO RESALE) 7.

BARCELONA COACH ERNESTO VALVERDE ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE 8.

(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BARCELONA COACH ERNESTO VALVERDE, SAYING: (OFFICIAL TRANSLATION) "He scored three goals, he gave an assist, he's a decisive player, he's a superior player.

But he's the most decisive player on the pitch.

They also have decisive and great players like Jesus Navas, but Messi's the best, he's the best in the world, not only because he scored three goals, he's the best because he reads the game and knows what the team needs and he's just the best." STORY: Lionel Messi scored his 50th career hat-trick to fire Barcelona to a 4-2 win at Sevilla on Saturday after the champions had twice fallen behind, giving the Catalans a 10-point lead at the top of La Liga.

Barca lead the standings on 57 points after 25 games while second-placed Atletico Madrid have 47 but can reduce the gap back to seven when they host Villarreal on Sunday.

Sevilla are Messi's favourite victims, and last year he came off the bench to score twice in two minutes and rescue a 2-0 draw from 2-0 down.

He went one better this time and has now scored 36 times in 37 games against the Andalusians.

It was his 44th hat-trick for Barca, with 32 coming in La Liga, eight in the Champions League, three in the Copa del Rey and one in the Spanish Super Cup.

He has also struck six trebles for Argentina.